[jarcher]

On the same lines and less expensive side you may want to investigate the Behringer DEQ2496.

Really?  As a stand alone DAC vs the high end audio brands mentioned here?  Never tried a "pro-audio" DAC - perhaps being prejudiced without first hand experience.......though the Benchmark sorta started life that way, I assume......

[srb]

Really?  As a stand alone DAC vs the high end audio brands mentioned here?

While much pro gear is often very good, I have never seen any Behringer gear used in a professional studio setting.  It is more appropriately "pro-sumer" gear rather than professional gear.

While I don't have personal experience with the DEQ2496, I have used a number of their other components (amplifier, DAC, passive monitor, powered monitor, guitar amplifier) to know that they are purchased solely for their 'lower than anyone else' price of admission.

Do they compare with gear two or three times their price?  No, at two or three times the price the other gear is an easy choice every time.  While I applaud them offering entry-level priced equipment that allows hobbyists and musicians to get gear that they otherwise couldn't afford to buy from any other vendor, you do get what you pay for.

Steve

[JLM]

As a "speaker guy" I still use a Behringer DEQ2496 as EQ and DAC but never until I had the DAC section modded by Scott Endler (search for his name) years ago.  Works/sounds great.  Extremely flexible EQ but horribly complex (must search for friendly instructions).  Nowadays I'm shifting (very slowly) to computer sourcing and would recommend software based EQ with a less expensive more up-to-date stand alone solution.  So I'll be trying to sell it eventually (even my pre-amp has a decent DAC built-in).

Yes, Behringer pricing is attractive but build quality is spotty and sound quality of their pieces tend towards getting what you pay for and little more.  The DEQ/DCQ digital sections are less sound quality limited.

[Napalm]

Really? 

Really. Why don't you quote the whole context, from which it was quite obvious that both the Dspeaker and the Behringer were proposed, at two different price points, for doing something more than just a plain DAC?

OTOH if you don't care about tone balance or other features then a design such as the Benchmark DAC1 HDR would save you from purchasing an extra box (the glorified volume knob known as a "preamp") and the afferent cables.

[Napalm]

Do they compare with gear two or three times their price?  No, at two or three times the price the other gear is an easy choice every time. 
Steve

This was not the point. The point is that at its price level you can't find any better. For 2-3 times the price other posters made the corresponding suggestions.

OTOH and as a subjective evaluation, I did find it to sound better than the DAC in CD players costing the 2x-3x multiplier.

[jarcher]

Really. Why don't you quote the whole context, from which it was quite obvious that both the Dspeaker and the Behringer were proposed, at two different price points, for doing something more than just a plain DAC?

OTOH if you don't care about tone balance or other features then a design such as the Benchmark DAC1 HDR would save you from purchasing an extra box (the glorified volume knob known as a "preamp") and the afferent cables.

Hey "napalm" - don't go blowing up on us now!   

It's just that the op asked for a DAC recommendation and I hadn't thought about pro or prosumer or whatever brands with or without signal processing / room correction / eq etc and was wondering of they are any good vs the usual hi-fi brand we discuss.

[lonewolfny42]

Bryston gear,why not audition BDA-1 or 2

Yes...that makes sense.

Bryston Circle.......Here...

[geowak]

I agree, which is why I went with a Schiit Bifrost, which is modular/upgradeable. They just came out with 2 upgrades that are affordable and very easy to install, so I spend $170 on upgrades instead of being stuck with an inferior DAC with older technology.

For the OP (as geowak said), they are coming out with a high end DAC that will be in the $1500-2k range. Not sure when it will be available as it was supposed to be released already. I am saving my pennies for this unit when it becomes available.

It's been announced and looks interesting. http://www.schiit.com/ragnarok-yggdrasil.pdf

[Vapor Audio]

First off, I'm a BMC dealer ...

But I had my first chance to spend time with a production PureDAC at the Newport Beach show, and I really think it's going to be the hot DAC for 2013.  It's a ton of performance and quality for the money.  The ultra high end headphone output is a bonus as well.  Take a look, $1600 btw.

http://www.bmc-audio.com/index.php/PureDAC-EN.html

[wisnon]

Yes the BMC is gorgeous, is priced attractively and has DSD too.

Whats not to like?

[fridays]

The sound?

[geowak]

What is very interesting about the advent and sheer volume of external DACs and the companies who are making them is how much choice is out there. There is a growing number of medium to high price DACs that act as digital preamps, high quality headphone amps, network devices, and more. There are some with tubes as well. So while the fight is on down in the trenches, among the inexpensive external DAC market, so it is getting to be a fight amongst the medium to high price DAC makers.

All of this, while TT and analog is making such a huge comeback. So why have all the B&M stores gone to the wayside? What a shame. I know one thing for sure, my digital files on computer and my CD player has never sounded so good.....

[wisnon]

The sound?

Nope...next question?

[fridays]

Wilson I meant to ask what it sounds like compared to .....

[wisnon]

Wilson I meant to ask what it sounds like compared to .....

Only read a few feedbacks and they were all very positive so far. People heard it in Munich...

[Napalm]

Hey "napalm" - don't go blowing up on us now!   

I'm just sick of people evaluating stuff based on price alone. During its history, everyone felt compelled to diss the DEQ, (even the Stereophile folks who usually don't care to look at this price point at all), mentioning everything from the power supply to the opamp type, suggesting that it cannot possibly work well. Yet *nobody* was able to pinpoint any sonic shortcomings. The fact is that it meets the datasheet specs and is uncolored. The particular DAC they used does not need output filters,  Behringer obliged and didn't add any, so it sounds as good as AKM could get the chip to be. Which is pretty good.

Incidentally it is one of the few DACs that plays Diana Krall right. Get a bunch of her CDs and listen to her sibilants. If it occasionally sounds like she's too close to the mic or the de-esser was slightly off, you're doing good. If it sounds like she's permanently lisping - your DAC should definitely be placed on e-bay. In the "for parts" category.

 

[nocrapman]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to update everyone on my final decision. I looked at a bunch of different units but ended up getting the NAD M51 for the features, quality and reviews and my personal experience with their lower end gear.

I have 30 days to try the product. In the first 3 days I have made up my mind - its a keeper!
Build solid, no fancy frills.
Features - all useful, uncluttered facade and easy to operate.
Design - unique, has been written about much and I am no expert.
SOUND - the most important aspect for me - is PERFECT! It has opened up the Salks(my reference rig)... and they sound better than ever before. It replaced a EE Minimax (original) with a Psavane. All the detail is there but no harshness. And while I dont have many Hi-def recordings yet - the few I do - sound fantastic.
I am yet to test it in the Bryston, Maggie system.... will report back in a few days.

Thanks for all the suggestions and the lively discussions!

[Mastiff_of_Liv]

I'm glad you were able to make a decision.  I personally like and own the Wyred 4Sound DAC-2 and am looking to improve it with the DSDse upgrade very soon.  I was able to audition a few DACs and like the W4S the best, although the NAD M51 was not on my list.  I see that wilsynet felt the M51 was way better.  Although everyone has a different ear, I'm curious of the comparison.  It's too bad you didn't get a chance to audition both (at least I don't think you did) because I would have been interested in your results.

Note: The W4S DAC-2 I auditioned had been burned in with plenty of hours.  I have read that it took a couple of hundred hours of burn in to really shine.